This book focuses on spatial planning - an important determinant of energy saving and renewable energy supply. Revealing the key driving forces for spatial development supporting the shift towards energy efficiency and renewable energy supplies, it shows the importance of integrated spatial and energy planning approaches for a timely and sustainable change of energy systems, thus supporting policies of climate protection. As operating within the context of renewable energy sources is becoming a major policy issue at the international, European and national level, spatial dimensions of renewable energy systems as well as challenges, barriers and opportunities in different spatial contexts become more important. This book analyses not only the fundamental system interrelations between resources, technologies and consumption patterns with respect to energy, but also the links to the spatial context, and provides guidelines for researchers as well as practitioners in this new, emerging field. It presents innovative analytical tools to solve real-world problems and discusses the most important fields of action in integrated spatial and energy planning including planning contents, planning visions and principles as well as planning process design and planning methodology.

This fundamental book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary view on the biobased economy. It explains opportunities for the value-adding production and use of bioresources, while also discussing the main drivers and obstacles involved. The book is divided into three major parts, the first of which introduces readers to the basics of bioresource economics and engineering. In terms of economics, it discusses decision-making from the policy, producer, investor, and citizen perspectives; in terms of engineering, it addresses key technologies and the processing of bioresources, as well as the development of biorefineries for high-value products on large and small scales. In turn, the book's second part presents cases focused on different types of energy use, and written by practitioners. The cases illustrate the businesses and technologies involved, as well as the roles of citizens, social organisations and policies. The book's third and last part highlights opportunities in sustainable agriculture, valuable industrial products and innovative services, while also outlining key conditions for success. Written by a team of scholars and practitioners from various engineering, natural-science and social-science disciplines, the book is primarily intended for undergraduate and graduate students, and for practitioners in business and policy who wish to explore the sustainable production and use of bioresources. All theoretical issues are explained with the aid of real-world examples, making the content highly accessible.

This fundamental book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary view on the biobased economy. It explains opportunities for the value-adding production and use of bioresources, while also discussing the main drivers and obstacles involved. The book is divided into three major parts, the first of which introduces readers to the basics of bioresource economics and engineering. In terms of economics, it discusses decision-making from the policy, producer, investor, and citizen perspectives; in terms of engineering, it addresses key technologies and the processing of bioresources, as well as the development of biorefineries for high-value products on large and small scales. In turn, the book's second part presents cases focused on different types of energy use, and written by practitioners. The cases illustrate the businesses and technologies involved, as well as the roles of citizens, social organisations and policies. The book's third and last part highlights opportunities in sustainable agriculture, valuable industrial products and innovative services, while also outlining key conditions for success. Written by a team of scholars and practitioners from various engineering, natural-science and social-science disciplines, the book is primarily intended for undergraduate and graduate students, and for practitioners in business and policy who wish to explore the sustainable production and use of bioresources. All theoretical issues are explained with the aid of real-world examples, making the content highly accessible.

Bio-resources are becoming increasingly important and topical as the world is faced with growing food demand as well as increased pressure to provide energy and materials. This monograph discusses the current flows of bio-resources, their inherent properties and the services that these resources may provide in a sustainable bio-based economy. There are two possible pathways to converting solar radiation, which we can regard as our planet's natural income, into material goods and storable energy carriers: using electricity to generate hydrogen via electrolysis and converting it with CO2 into hydrocarbons, or utilising bio-resources. Most uses of bio-resources compete for limited fertile land, requiring the highest possible efficiency in its use. The natural endowment of land, logistical requirements and economic and cultural factors in their utilisation make bio-resources inherently contextual goods. Decisions about the rational use of bio-resources must therefore be taken with regard to concrete regional contexts. Based on an analysis of services of bio-resources in a bio-based economy, their particular properties, and the characteristics of current state technologies, this monograph develops rules to balance the utilisation of bio-resources in the framework of a regional context.